Seveneves

Book 10 of 2016 is Seveneves by Neil Stephenson.

This book has been a reading project for the last 4 months. At Christmas time, I bought four copes and distributed to my reading friends. One took it up and demolished it in no time while the others, I must chase to complete this 880 page tome.

What I can tell you is that this book is worth every second I got the pleasure to spend on it. There were no slow moments. Every part lead to the next. Every challenge felt uncomfortable but absolutely necessary. Each word and page and chapter and plot and play was well played and entirely satisfying.

I won't ruin anything for you except to say that if there were seven Eves then this is the way the nine should end.

In the words of the recently departed Prince of purple...
All seven and we'll watch them fall
They stand in the way of love
And we will smoke them all
With an intellect and a savior-faire
No one in the whole universe
Will ever compare

5 evolutions out of 5.

Should I read this? This is a sci-fi must. A must. Like, read it NOW.
What did I learn? Who runs the world? Girls.

I'm coming home, coming home. Tell the world I'm coming home.

Every day starts with a coffee. I stopped drinking non-fat milk so the 16oz full cream latte with no added anything else is my drug of choice.

Breakfast is becoming more of a habit now. Usually it consists of eggs or fruit but it isn't consistent and may never be. Someone once told me it is better to eat anything at all to start your day over eating nothing much. That sticks in my head each morning and is appreciated when my metabolism kicks in to high gear after a breakfast sandwich or bowl of porridge.

Timebound

Book 9 of 2016 is Timebound by Rysa Walker.

This was another Kindle Unlimited book that I chose because it was free. Again, this was a great recommendation that I didn't expect much from. When will I learn that the one thing you can trust on Amazon is a book rating?

Another strong female lead who I want to read more about. In fact, all the important characters are women or respectful supportive males. Obviously written by another female. I didn't know that for sure until I checked while writing this. Female sci-fi fantasy authors are owning the genre in these modern times and thank goodness for that.

These are not only written for women but for everyone and quite well. Well worth the read.

4 disappearing photo IDs out of 5.

Should I read this?  Yes and possibly the whole series. It is so promising.
What did I learn? Recessive genes can really count against you.

Departure

Book 8 of 2016 is Departure by A, G, Riddle.

Again, I wasn't expecting too much and this could be because my random choices of science fiction are based on the blurb on the back of the book and that is never written well.

Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised by the way this book was told in the male and female voice and that the twists really were not predictable.

There are many complex relationships in this book and a bunch of likable and drownable characters in this book, which leaves you feeling like you really cared what happened in the end.

The final couple of chapters kept me engaged right up until the last page.

This i an original tale and one I am already recommending to friends and colleagues.

4 flights to Heathrow of 5.

Should I read this? This is only for sci-fi fans.

What did I learn? The good of the many outweighs the good of the one. Haha, no, Spock taught me that.

Frostfire

Book 7 of 2016 is Frostfire by Amanda Hocking.

This is the first book in The Kanin Chronicles and that is the only thing that annoyed me about this book. It ends in a to be continued stance and this irks me because I think first books should always stand proudly on their own without the need of the rest of the series. If not, you better not carry on for more than 3 books.

The female protagonist is very teenage girl but she has an independent mind and that is nice to see in a fantasy book. A female author obviously makes for good female characters. The main character and the mysterious criminal she pursues make this series worth chasing alongside her.

4 gilled relatives of 5.

Should I read this? For fantasy readers who like mystery and good female characters.
What did I learn? Not all trolls are ugly.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories

Book 6 of 2016 is Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie.

A friend of mine came to see Salman Rushdie promote his latest book: Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights: A Novel. This is her favourite book and hearing all the people at Rushdie's reading raving about this book and asking when the movie will be made. That was enough to see me buy this book on my very next visit to my favourite book store.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this book. It is for children and adults. It keeps you engaged the whole time and although words are wielded by the wizard that is Rushdie, it is easy to read.

In the style of Arabian Nights, the story is of a boy and his father saving the stories of the world. Everything is magical and fantastical. It is quite wonderful. Absolutely one of the best books I've read in a very long time. I wish I'd read this as a child.

5 happy endings out of 5.

Should I read this? Yes, you should. You should also read it to all the children you know or gift them this book.

What did I learn? Storytelling is alive and well. Literature is a good story.

Angela's Ashes

Book 5 of 2016 is Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt.

I have intended to read this book for a very long time but only now got around to it.

McCourt makes this one of the best depressing reads since The Road and I loved it!

As an Irish descendant, this explained the great Irish migration away from the religious oppression, dire poverty and depression.

His writing is descriptive and brutally authentic. This is very much worth the read.

5 dead siblings out of 5.

Should I read this? Only if you can deal with the suffering of children going through an economic depression. It may not be for everyone.
What did I learn? The Catholic church is even more horrible than I thought.